Facsimile interface device for radios

Abstract

Briefly, according to the invention, the interface device comprises matching device (20 and 22) for coupling a duplex information signal (21 and 23) to a simplex or a duplex radio (6) which provides a corresponding information signal (27) acknowledged by the half duplex or full duplex radio (6). Additionally, a signal detecting means (24) determines a desired signal strength and controls an interrupt signal (32). A means for sending (26) the interrupt signal (32) to the radio (6) sends the interrupt signal once the signal detecting means detects the desired signal strength. Finally, the interface device of the present invention comprises a means for sending (26) the corresponding information (27) once the interrupt signal is sent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A facsimile interface device for duplex to simplex radio communication, comprising: matching means for coupling a duplex information signal to a half duplex radio, providing a corresponding simplex information signal acknowledged by said radio;   signal detecting means for determining a desired signal strength from the duplex information signal and for controlling an interrupt signal to a half-duplex radio;   a PTT generating circuit for generating the interrupt signal to the half-duplex radio, said PTT generating circuit being coupled to the signal detecting means;   means for sending the interrupt signal external from the duplex information signal to said radio once said signal detecting means detects said desired signal strength;   means for sending the corresponding simplex information signal once the interrupt signal is sent, allowing suffient time between receiving and transmitting data for the half-duplex radio to start transmitting.   
     
     
       2. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein said matching means comprises an RJ-11 circuit coupled to a 2 to 4 wire convertor. 
     
     
       3. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein the facsimile interface device allows for a group wide FAX which provides for transmission of facsimile information over a radio channel to multiple users at the same time. 
     
     
       4. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein a sending party of a FAX is notified when a receiving party receives the FAX by a status information signal triggered by paper movement in the receiving party's fax. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein said signal detecting means comprises a facsimile signal detector and a comparator output capable of controlling the interrupt signal. 
     
     
       6. The facsimile interface device of claim 5, wherein said signal detecting means further comprises a comparator. 
     
     
       7. The facsimile interface device of claim 6, wherein said signal detecting means further comprises a modem. 
     
     
       8. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein a Page On Receipt feature automatically pages a receiving party of a facsimile copy when the facsimile copy is received. 
     
     
       9. The Page on Receipt feature of claim 8, wherein the receiving party is paged via said radio. 
     
     
       10. The Page on Receipt feature of claim 8, wherein the receiving party is paged via a separate paging system. 
     
     
       11. The Page on Receipt feature of claim 8, wherein the receiving party is paged via a fax telephone line. 
     
     
       12. The facsimile interface device of claim 1, wherein said means for sending the interrupt signal and means for sending the corresponding information signal comprises a buffer, and a mute for transmit and receive audio when said simplex information is being sent or received.